§ Mr. BAKERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether his Department hopes to find employment 621W for the 91 lieutenant-commanders who are at present unemployed; whether lieutenant-commanders were specifically excluded from the special retirement scheme by which the surplus of naval officers was disposed of; and what pension terms would have been given had these men been included in the retirement scheme as compared with the pension terms which they will receive if retired at the present time?
§ Mr. AMMONThe number of 91 lieutenant-commanders at present unemployed comprises officers unemployed while temporarily awaiting their next appointment, unemployed at their own request, or for other reasons. There is in general no surplus of officers of this rank over mobilisation requirements, but owing to temporary conditions, the number unemployed at present is somewhat above the average. I hope, however, that all but a few of the officers concerned will be given further employment. Lieutenant-commanders were not eligible for retirement under the special retirement scheme of 1922, and the question of special rates of retired pay for them has not been considered. In the circumstances, I am unable to state what rates would have been granted, had they been included.